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CEGL000129 Pinus albicaulis / Carex rossii Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Whitebark Pine / Ross'' Sedge Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Pinus albicaulis forest type is widespread in the Yellowstone Highlands and Wind River Range of southeastern Idaho and northwestern Wyoming. The association is also present in the Centennial Range and southern Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho and possibly Montana and the Absaroka, Gros Ventre, and Washakie ranges of Wyoming. The association occurs on cold, dry, high mountain slopes and plateaus at 2315 to 3205 m (7600-10,500 feet) elevation. Stands of the association are dominated by Pinus albicaulis. Pinus contorta may also be present and may codominate the overstory. The understory is often depauperate. Important understory species include Carex rossii, Poa nervosa, Antennaria microphylla, Chamerion angustifolium, and Solidago multiradiata. Productivity on sites occupied by the association is low due to cool mean annual temperature and a short growing season. An infrequent, low-intensity fire disturbance regime is characteristic of the association. Fire contributes to the maintenance of Pinus albicaulis dominance and stand structural heterogeneity.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands sampled by Steele et al. (1981) and classified as Pinus albicaulis Series or as the Pinus albicaulis - Abies lasiocarpa habitat types may include the association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This association is extensive on high-elevation mountain slopes and plateaus within the Yellowstone Highlands and Wind River Range of southeastern Idaho, southwestern Montana, and Wyoming, respectively. The association occurs as smaller, dispersed stands in the Centennial Mountains and southern Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho and Montana and the Absorbka, Gros Ventre, and Washakie ranges of Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687334
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g Whitebark Pine - Subalpine Fir - Subalpine Larch Northern Rocky Mountain Woodland Group | G223 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Alliance | A3368 Whitebark Pine Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3368 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
| Association | CEGL000129 Whitebark Pine / Ross'' Sedge Forest | CEGL000129 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Pinus albicaulis / Carex rossii Habitat Type (Steele et al. 1983)
>< Pinus albicaulis / Carex rossii Plant Association (Johnston 1997)
>< Pinus albicaulis / Carex rossii Plant Association (Johnston 1997)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
- Johnston, B. C. 1997. Ecological types of the Upper Gunnison Basin. USDA Forest Service, Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison national forests. Review Draft. 539 pp.
- Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Steele, R., R. D. Pfister, R. A. Ryker, and J. A. Kittams. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. General Technical Report INT-114. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 138 pp.
- Steele, R., S. V. Cooper, D. M. Ondov, D. W. Roberts, and R. D. Pfister. 1983. Forest habitat types of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. General Technical Report INT-144. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 122 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.